Chapter 361

Chapter 361: Heavenly Techniques of Darkness

The reversal of the southern situation was entirely due to Mu Lin’s efforts alone.

Should he join the northern aristocrats, the south would instantly plunge back into despair.

So when they heard the northern aristocrats were considering inviting Mu Lin, everyone in the meeting room had the same thought.

"No! We can’t let this happen!"

Regardless of family allegiance or cultivation level, all present agreed immediately.

Yet a mocking laugh soon cut through the room.

"Now you recognize Mu Lin’s worth? Now you see our Southeast Province can’t function without him?" sneered a voice. "But wasn’t someone here spouting cold remarks earlier?"

"True enough," another chimed in. "The moment he achieves something, there’s talk of teaching him humility. I wonder how Mu Lin would feel knowing this."

The coordinated remarks came from Yan and Chu family members. The Luo family elder who’d suggested disciplining Mu Lin turned ashen, especially under the room’s judgmental stares.

Quick to salvage the situation, the Luo elder coughed. "My earlier words were… misguided. But with the northern threat looming, we must maintain unity. For the greater good, let’s keep this matter quiet—"

"Pfft!"

The Yan family head cut him off mid-sentence.

"Old fool! Think you can moral-pressure me? That ‘greater good’ nonsense only works on cold clan’s disciples."

The room stirred. Everyone knew aristocratic families only preached sacrifice when pushing weaker parties to yield—never among equals. The Yan family couldn’t back down here, not when their own conflict with Luo had sparked Mu Lin’s involvement.

Remaining silent now would alienate Mu Lin later. The Yan patriarch knew if he acquiesced, rival families would inevitably leak this discussion to poach the young talent. Even ally Chu might betray them for sole access to Mu Lin.

"You brainless relic!" The Luo elder slammed the table. "Your recklessness will drive Mu Lin to the northerners! You’ll ruin everything!"

"Save your breath," the Yan chief retorted. "Any rift with Mu Lin is your making. You’re the one blind to reality here."

The air thickened as both factions glared across the meeting room.

"Right now, it’s only your family conflicting with Mu Lin. The other aristocrats in Southeast Province haven’t gotten involved. If you swallow your pride and offer some Heavenly-grade resources, spiritual weapons, and treasures to satisfy him, this dispute will end."

"But if you try to cover it up and fail, Mu Lin will absolutely join the northern aristocrats. You bastard! Are you trying to destroy our southern advantage?"

Head of the Chu family added: "Exactly. Elder Luo, you must endure this for the greater good. Contribute some resources."

Those who wielded moral pressure weren’t limited to Elder Luo. The heads of Yan and Chu families attending this meeting were equally ruthless.

They threw Elder Luo’s own arguments back at him.

— If you keep preaching about the greater good, now it’s your turn to sacrifice.

Though Elder Luo enjoyed pressuring others morally, he hated being on the receiving end.

"Humph! If you both keep quiet, how would Mu Lin learn about this? Even if he discovers it later, what could he do?"

‘He’d resent us forever,’ thought the Yan and Chu leaders privately, though neither voiced this aloud.

Facing Elder Luo’s defiance, the Yan family head shrugged. "Unlike some, we prioritize the greater good and won’t leak this. But who here can guarantee this room doesn’t contain traitors?"

"Who’s to say someone here hasn’t already sold out to the northern aristocrats?"

The Yan leader grinned sharply at Elder Luo:

"Your Luo family looks particularly suspicious."

Beyond moral pressure, the Yan leader now resorted to the classic tactic of powerful clans: slander.

Elder Luo bristled. "Ridiculous! How could I side with northern people…"

"Easily," countered the Yan head. "Mu Lin saved southern honor through his achievements. Any decent person would reward such a hero, not lecture him about hierarchy."

"Your hostility makes me wonder—are you deliberately driving Mu Lin north? Maybe you’ve already joined the northern aristocrats and can’t accept their defeat, so you smear our true hero…"

Snickers rippled through the room.

Though everyone knew Elder Luo wasn’t actually a northern spy, the Yan leader’s performance made two things clear:

First, Mu Lin would inevitably learn about this meeting.

Second, either Yan or Chu family would leak the information while avoiding blame.

Leaving no evidence while informing Mu Lin would be child’s play for these clans. Without proof, both families could insist the Luo family itself had leaked the details while framing them as traitors.

No evidence? Neither side could prove who informed Mu Lin, creating endless deniable chaos.

As equals rather than subordinates, these powerful clans thrived in such murky waters.

Without solid evidence, they couldn’t unite to pass judgment.

Realizing this, everyone turned their attention to the elder of the Lu family.

Their reasoning was clear: since they couldn’t prevent the news from spreading, the one who caused the problem must fix it.

“Lu Yangyao,” someone declared, “no matter the method or cost, you must stop the northern aristocrats from recruiting Mu Lin.”

Others quickly joined in.

“If Mu Lin joins them and destroys the south’s advantage, neither you nor your Luo family will survive the wrath of the Southeast Province.”

“Fix this.”

“Don’t fail us.”

After each elder spoke, the final blow came from the head of the Yan family, the Lu family’s rival. Smiling calmly, he said, “Elder Lu, you and your family must endure this loss. The greater good comes first, after all.”

*Crack!*

The mocking words pierced Lu Yangyao’s pride. His magic surged, shattering the table before him.

The Yan family head showed no fear. “Why rage? ‘The greater good’ has always been your creed. I’m merely asking you to uphold it. Hah!”

……

Mu Lin remained unaware of the southern aristocrats’ meeting.

At that moment, he hosted northern delegates in his small courtyard. He noted their seriousness—besides prodigies Luo Chen, Qing, and Iron Tower, they’d sent Lu Hao, an Earth Master deputy legion commander who greeted him with gentle respect.

They had no choice.

The southerners knew Mu Lin dominated both Young and Youth Group battles. The northerners, equally perceptive, realized his continued participation would tip the conflict irreversibly in the south’s favor, destroying all their plans.

This northern campaign wasn’t mere rivalry—it determined Life and Death for millions and the fate of countless powerful clans. Hence their urgency.

Lu Hao, his aura otherworldly, bowed deeply to Mu Lin. “We wronged you, Young Master Mu. You showed us kindness, yet we repaid it with betrayal.”

Mu Lin hid his surprise. Powerful beings rarely apologized to juniors. Lu Hao’s humility revealed the north’s desperation—their situation must be dire.

He hurriedly raised the deputy commander. “No need for formalities, Deputy Commander Lu. We serve different masters—it’s only natural.”

Prideful but pragmatic, Mu Lin accepted their olive branch. With Yan Yunyu’s assistance, he negotiated swiftly, bypassing past grudges.

Their demand was simple: withdraw from future north-south clashes. His last victory had terrified them.

To his approval, they offered compensation. “We’ve heard,” Lu Hao said, “you seek cultivation methods tied to Existence and Nothingness. The Great Snow Mountain sect in the North Wilderness guards the Heavenly Techniques of Darkness—a art touching those very concepts. We’ll secure you a chance to study it.”

His tone hardened. “But know this: we provide only the opportunity. Mastering it? That’s on you. The Heavenly Techniques of Darkness devours geniuses. Many vanish into nothingness. Few survive, let alone succeed. The choice is yours.”